These students overcame all odds

Kranti Vibhute and Veda Ramaswamy, Mumbai
June 14, 2012 - Mid Day

From a mother-son duo to a homeless student to a differently-abled student, Kranti Vibhute and Veda Ramaswamy report on the students who scripted their success stories despite many hurdles along the way 

Like mother, like son: Shiny and David studied together for their exams. Pics/Nimesh Dave

Exam’s a family affair for mum and son

When David Mathew (15) appeared for his exams, his mother wasn’t at home wondering how he would fare. Instead, she appeared for the same exams at the insistence of her mother. Shiny Mathew (37) secured 54 per cent while David secured 48 per cent at the board exams conducted by the National Institute Open Schooling (NIOS).

Shiny, a single parent, said, “I am very happy that I passed my NIOS exam with my son David. We both enjoyed studying together and also gave the exams together. I only decided to appear for the exams to help my son and to encourage him. My mother had encouraged me to appear for the board exam, and my son too. David’s friends also supported me a lot.” David said, “My friend, my mother and I used to study together. I enjoyed studying with her, and I forced her to give the exam with me. It was fun studying together and helping each other out. I am thrilled that we both passed this exam together.”

All play doesn’t make you dull

Shubham Premchand Sharma (16), a student of Balmohan Vidyamandir, Dadar scored 96.91 per cent under the sports quota. Shubham, a state-level baseball player was awarded marks for participating in 7th Junior Baseball competition. Shubham was never a bookworm. He only studied for four hours daily, playing games on the computer and practising in the afternoons. “I practiced rigorously two months prior to the competitions. My studies never took a backseat because of my interest in the game,” said Shubham, who aspires to become an IAS officer. He credits his family for being supportive and understanding his love for the game. “Initially, my father had gotten to know that I had scored 92 per cent. I was disappointed, since I was expecting more than 95 per cent. But the moment I saw my result online, I was ecstatic,” said Shubham.

SSC result was music for deaf and dumb student

He can’t hear and can’t speak, but Dev Shah (16), a student studying at Angel Land High School, Andheri (West), proved that success can be achieved if one has a strong will. Against all odds, Dev scored 85.5 per cent and topped in his school. Dev’s father, Ashish Shah, describes his son’s feat as nothing short of a miracle. “Dev was born three months premature, which gave rise to a hearing defect. Making it through the critical condition was the first miracle. Achieving his exceptional score, in spite of his disability, is the second miracle,” said Ashish Shah. Dev completed his pre-primary schooling from Shruti School, a special school in Juhu. “We decided that we would send him to a regular school with other children. The teachers were cooperative and gave him undivided attention. He was regular with his studies and homework. No stress-no pressure — this was his motto,” said Ashish. On being asked about his ambition for the future, Dev explained in sign language, “I want to score 90 per cent in HSC.” He plans to pursue further studies in the commerce stream.

Fast track to success

For 17-year-old Ankush Baleshwar Prasad passing the SSC with 80.91 per cent is nothing short of a dream come true. As a young lad who lived at Kanpur railway station, he overcame all odds to score a high percentage.

His story is one of triumph over hardship. Ankush, who currently stays at Sneha Sadan, a shelter for homeless kids, said, “When I was small I remember studying in kindergarten, but later when I got lost at the age of eight, I started living at Kanpur railway station. After that I was shifted to a rehabilitation centre where I stayed for three years. I learnt stitching there. Since many kids at the centre were running away, I too ran away and reached CST railway station. At a Amchi Kholi (Baal Ashray), a shelter for kids, I was asked whether I wanted to study by the volunteers. The NGO sent me to a municipal school. In 2006 when I was brought to Sneha Sadan I started my schooling from Std V and that too without any background of schooling. I always wanted to study. I wanted to score better than 80.91 per cent, but don’t know how I got less. I wish to study for a diploma in IT engineering.”

Determination kept him moving towards goal

Tushar Parmar, SSC student from Dalwai Educational Trust Goregaon English School, is not among those students who went for private tuitions for all subjects or had a special room in his house to study. A son of a BMC worker Tushar Parmar (15) scored 87.64 per cent. He said, “My mother is a housewife and my father works in the BMC. I fared well in my exams because of my elder sister’s guidance and my schoolteachers. I always had a curiosity to know what is the reason behind any particular thing and my ambition is to become a scientist and do a lot of research.”

Passed Muster?

88.94: Pass percentage for fresh examinees

0: Pass percentage for 23 schools spread over Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts

682: The number of Mumbai schools out of a total 3,356 who enjoyed a 100 % pass percentage

48: No of cheating cases  

Leap of joy: Ankush Prasad passed the SSC exam with 80.91 per cent. 

Link to the original article here.

Online Admission Made Easier

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi,
May 14, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

During its introduction last year, the online admission process for first year junior college (FYJC) had faced several administrative and technical glitches. This year, in order to improve the process, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL), the company that handles the process, has implemented certain changes. 

Previously, the state Board issued admission brochures to MKCL which distributed it to the Authorized Training Centre (ATC) and Applied Language Centre (ALC) from where children were made to collect it. But this year, the process has been made simpler with the ATC and ALCs no longer associated with the procedure. 

Jyoti Nikam, administrator of the ATC in Vashi, said, “Last year, we were in charge of the brochures and the online admission system but this time we have been excluded from the process.” Now, the Board has directly issued the required brochures to schools across Maharashtra for the benefit of the students. Along with the brochures, the schools also provide students with their unique login IDs and passwords which have been allotted by the Board. 

An official from St. Lawrence High School, Vashi, Nisha Peter said, “We have distributed the brochures along with the login IDs and passwords to the students a week ago. We had allotted students specific timings as per their division. This new process has proved to be more systematic than before.” Similarly, other schools as well, have arranged particular timings for the distribution process for the convenience of their students. 

Also, MKCL has changed the online admission process by dividing it into two phases — registration and selection. In the registration phase, once the students have been allotted their unique login IDs and passwords, they can fill up the online forms and get themselves registered for admission. The declaration of result begins the second phase. Once the students are aware of their scores, they can opt for colleges accordingly. 

The manager of the MKCL branch in Vashi, Darpan Deoghare said, “The alterations have been made to prevent the server breakdowns which were observed last year due to the last minute rush. This year, the registration process has commenced well in advance. We hope to be successful in avoiding the errors this time.”

Special Expo by Special Children

Veda Ramaswamy, Belapur,
April 29, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai

Articles displayed were made of recycled paper and other waste matter

The Education and Training Centre for Children with Different Abilities (ETC) Institute based in Airoli had organised a two-day art exhibition on April 27 and 28 at NMMC Headquarters in Belapur. The exhibition drew a lot of attention from visitors as students put their best foot forward to bring out beautiful artefacts.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nahata in the presence of Varsha Bhagat, the director of the institute on Tuesday. A wide range of attractive and useful items like showpieces, paper and pen holders, Ganesh idols, envelopes, torans, flower vases, wall hangings, paper roses, bouquets made of artificial flowers, beaded curtains, ornaments, glass and Warli paintings were on display during the exhibition. These items were made by the students themselves.

The ETC Institute has been working diligently towards the welfare of special children and has won the trust of parents and children in a short span of time. The exhibition based on the theme of ‘best out of waste’ comprised articles made of recycled paper and many other waste articles. The main objective of the exhibition was to showcase the ability of special children, who are otherwise sidelined by the society. Bhagat said, “Through this exhibition, we wish to show the world that these children are no less talented. This initiative will help make them independent and develop their social mind set.” The children are taught art, craft and painting by the creative team of ETC comprising eight teachers. Vaishali Patil, one of the teachers said, “Teaching special children is a challenge, which we love to face. We are doing our best to brighten up their future.” The items on display were reasonably priced. No wonder, the exhibition received a positive response from visitors. The exhibition is held every six months.

What's your mantra to beat the scorching heat this summer?

Veda Ramaswamy, Vashi
May 6, 2010 - DNA Navi Mumbai